Lane Below was named an assistant coach on Joey Cantens' staff ahead of the 2026-27 season after spending the previous two seasons as head coach of Gulf Coast State.
In 2025-26, Below led the Commodores to a 27-8 record and a semifinal appearance in the NJCAA DI Playoffs. The team averaged 82.5 points per game and 40.4 rebounds per game, going 12-7 in their region.
In his first season as Head Coach of the Commodores, Below guided the program to a 23-10 overall record and an appearance in the FCSAA Region 8 Championship. The Commodores showed balance on both ends of the court while establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the state.
Under the leadership of Below and his staff, sophomore standout Christian Harmon had a remarkable year. Harmon was named the 2025 Panhandle Conference Player of the Year, earned NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Second Team All-America honors, and was selected to the FCSAA All-Tournament Team. He started all 33 games, averaging 16.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Harmon shot an impressive 48.4 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from three-point range, where he connected on 101 triples to finish 10th nationally. He reached double figures in scoring 30 times, posted seven 20-plus point performances, and scored a career-high 30 points against Daytona State on March 14.
The 2024-25 campaign also produced one of the most successful years in program history for player advancement, as nine Commodores earned scholarships to continue their careers at four-year institutions. Seven moved on to NCAA Division I programs, while two continued at high level NCAA Division II programs. Advancing to Division I were Christian Harmon (Arkansas State), Truman Claytor (University of Arkansas Little Rock), Chip Brunt (Northwestern State), Tichyque Musaka (Stephen F. Austin), Prince Johnson (Eastern Illinois), Marcus Pigram (Western Illinois), and Brycen Blaine (Charleston Southern). Emmanuel James (Lincoln Memorial) and Christian Valarezo (University of West Florida) each signed with Division II programs.
Serving as an Assistant Coach for the Chipola Indians from 2022-24, Below played a pivotal role in the team's remarkable success. Under his guidance, the 2023-24 Chipola Men’s Basketball program achieved back-to-back Panhandle Conference Championships, 2024 Region VIII Champions, and made their third consecutive National Tournament appearance. Notably, during the 2023 season, Chipola advanced to the Sweet 16 at the National Tournament in Hutchinson, KS. During Coach Below's time with the Chipola Indians, he helped guide seven players to NCAA Division I institutions.Â
Before joining Chipola, Below honed his coaching skills during two seasons as an Assistant Coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he collaborated with hall of Fame Coach Tim Ryan. Prior to that, he served as a graduate assistant at the University of Mississippi, working under head coach Kermit Davis, contributing to the team's success in advancing to the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Below's journey in basketball started as a collegiate player at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, under the guidance of the legendary Gene Bess, followed by two seasons at Ole Miss, playing under head coach Andy Kennedy. He graduated from Ole Miss in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in general studies and was recognized for his academic achievements as a member of the Southeast Conference Academic Honor Roll. Later, as a graduate assistant for the Rebels, he earned a master's degree in health promotion.
Originally from Advance, Missouri, Coach Below is deeply rooted in the basketball community. He is married to Hannah Below, a former NCAA Division I basketball player at Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Evansville. Together, they have two children.
